Australian forced to give up Cuba-Florida quest

The endurance swimmer was determined to swim from Cuba to
Florida, through shark-infested waters without the aid of a shark
cage, in a world-record attempt.

The quest was admirable considering it was for cancer
research charity.

But it wasn’t sharks that plagued McCardel in the early going of
her 104-mile journey. Jellyfish stings forced the 28-year-old to
give up her quest after 11 hours. Support boats took Cardel out of
the water and back to Key West.

If you don’t think jellyfish stings are painful, here’s what
McCardel said to the Associated Press of the ride back to Key West
after being stung numerous times:

“It was two and a half hours of the worst pain, continuously,
every second, of my whole entire life. It’s like fireballs in every
fiber,” she said.